FIREFLY TEE

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Jessie Winnie Jessie Winnie’s story as an artist is special for many reasons. At a young age, she was diagnosed with a type of Cerebral Palsy that impaired her motor skills. Jessie’s muscles were “loose” and she was unable to hold anything. She says, “My arms would flop around, plus I had tremors where my hand would shake. It was hard to keep my hand steady so when I started to learn how to draw, I would stab holes in the paper but it was the only way I could control the pencil. I would sit outside on the porch with my dad and we would draw together. He was my teacher. I learned how to control the pencil and strengthened my muscles. Now I am stronger but when my arm is really red, my hand will still shake.” Jessie started doing art at the age of 8. She was born in Sedalia, Missouri. When asked what the creative process means to her, she replied, “Expressing my feelings, creating things. I like when people say, “I like it” and “good job” because when I was a kid, I